Weatherly girls after district title

The weather only delayed the inevitable stage that is a championship battle between two teams with more than a little history.

Weatherly and Nativity will meet at 1:30 p.m. at Martz Hall on Saturday to play for the District 11 1A girls title.

Along with two matchups during the regular season this year, the Wreckers (15-8) also still have some bad blood from the 2017 postseason.

The Golden Girls handed Weatherly a 58-38 loss in the quarterfinal round of last year’s playoffs, eliminating the Wreckers from advancing.

“They knocked us out last year, and all of my girls remember that,” said Weatherly head coach Kevin Kringe. “We want them, and they want us. I’m ready for a war.”

A common concern for playoff teams is having too much time off between games.

Many teams build on momentum, and extended breaks often slow down pace of play. But Kringe explained it’s not the case with his squad.

“We took on so many good teams in such a short stretch there towards the end of the season, and it kind of seemed that we were dragging,” he said. “It was nice to get the bye and recharge our batteries.”

“Our team flies around and needs energy to make things happen, so the more rest the better for us.”

The teams split their two games this season, each winning a close game.

Nativity (8-16) posted a 58-50 victory back on Dec. 18. Madison Clarke scored 14 points and Julia Klembara netted 13 for the Golden Girls, while Emily Zoscin tallied a game-high 16 points for the Wreckers in what was just their third game of the season.

Kringe said that in the first game his team felt like they controlled a majority of the action but fell apart and didn’t control the ball in the end.

“The second time we played, we controlled possession of the ball and really pressed them, which is what I plan to do in the championship.”

In that rematch, a 56-53 Weatherly win, Kringe’s club rebounded from an early 10-0 deficit to gain their 11th win of the season to clinch a district playoff berth. Zoscin topped all scorers again with 18 points, while teammates Megan Peifer (16) and Lindsey Hoffman (15) also contributed. Clarke’s 13 paced Nativity.

Kringe said that while Nativity is a more fundamental “by-the-book” type of team, his players want to pressure and force other clubs out of their comfort zone.

The Wreckers’ head coach also said that one thing his team needs to do in this championship game is believe.

Following Tuesday’s semifinal win against Forest City, Kringe noted he had made a PowerPoint with goals for the girls almost four years ago. And they laughed at him.

“I had goals written on there that kind of blew their minds, but here we are in the district playoffs, in the district championship, and we’re on our way to the state playoffs.

“These girls need to believe that we are here and we deserve to be here, and I think that they are finally realizing that.”

The Wreckers are led in scoring by Zoscin, who averages 18.39 points per game. Peifer (9.86 ppg), and Hoffman (8.17 ppg) also lend offensive support for second-seeded Weatherly, which is looking for its first district title since 1986.

Win or lose, the Wreckers have already qualified for the state playoffs, which begin on Saturday, March 10.